How to start homeschooling in Vermont
The legal steps, in order, checked against Vermont law.
Short answer: Vermont calls homeschooling a home study program. A parent sends an enrollment notice to the Agency of Education at least 10 business days before starting and renews it each year. The parent attests to teaching the minimum course of study for the equivalent of 175 days and to assessing progress at the end of each year, and keeps those assessment records.
Checked against 16 V.S.A. 166b on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 6 to 16. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Home study program
Families teaching children who live in the home, plus up to two other children or children from one other family.
Steps
- Submit the Agency of Education Notice of Intent form at least 10 business days before home study begins.
- For a child not previously enrolled in a Vermont public school or home study program, include independent professional evidence on whether the child has a documented disability. The Agency also accepts a Vermont public school report card, an IEP or 504 plan, or other disability documentation.
- Wait for the Agency's written acknowledgment, which counts as enrollment. The Agency says a child already in school should keep attending until enrollment is confirmed.
- Teach the minimum course of study for the equivalent of at least 175 days.
- Assess the child at the end of the school year and keep the record.
- File the annual notice at least 10 business days before each following year's start date.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: The Vermont Secretary of Education, through the Agency of Education Home Study office When: At least 10 business days before home study begins, then each following year at least 10 business days before the start date Official form |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Under age 13: basic communication skills (reading, writing, use of numbers); citizenship, history, and government of Vermont and the United States; physical education and comprehensive health education; English, American, and other literature; natural sciences; and fine arts. Age 13 and older: basic communication skills, citizenship and government, literature, and natural sciences. Children with documented disabilities must be given adaptations. |
| Time | The equivalent of at least 175 days of instruction per year. |
| Parent qualifications | None required by law. |
| Testing or evaluation | An end of year assessment using one of: a standardized test, a review by a person with a current Vermont teacher's certificate, a parent report and portfolio with at least four work samples, grades from an online academy or school, or passing the GED. The Agency says not to send it unless you want it reviewed. |
| Records to keep | Keep the record of each annual assessment. The Agency also advises keeping a copy of your curriculum. |
Leaving public school mid-year
The Agency of Education says a child in school should keep attending until the Agency confirms home study enrollment by email and letter, and the family may then withdraw the child from school. To end home study, the statute requires written notice to the Secretary within 10 business days after the child is withdrawn from the program.
High school, transcripts and diplomas
The Agency of Education does not issue diplomas to home study students. Families may request a verification letter showing home study enrollment dates. A family seeking a diploma from a local school must work with that school's guidance department on credits.
Public school sports and activities
Yes, per the Agency of Education. Its public school FAQ says Act 119 lets home study students take part in public school academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular programs, and State Board rules require equal treatment on enrollment procedures, deadlines, and capacity.
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in Vermont?
Yes, under the home study program route, you notify the Vermont Secretary of Education, through the Agency of Education Home Study office at least 10 business days before home study begins, then each following year at least 10 business days before the start date.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in Vermont?
An end of year assessment using one of: a standardized test, a review by a person with a current Vermont teacher's certificate, a parent report and portfolio with at least four work samples, grades from an online academy or school, or passing the GED. The Agency says not to send it unless you want it reviewed.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in Vermont?
Under age 13: basic communication skills (reading, writing, use of numbers); citizenship, history, and government of Vermont and the United States; physical education and comprehensive health education; English, American, and other literature; natural sciences; and fine arts. Age 13 and older: basic communication skills, citizenship and government, literature, and natural sciences. Children with documented disabilities must be given adaptations.
What ages must be schooled in Vermont?
Ages 6 to 16, per state law.
Sources
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.